Manchester City to contest Sergio Aguero’s violent conduct charge

Manchester City are ready to contest a violent conduct charge against Sergio Aguero for an alleged elbow on West Ham defender Winston Reid last weekend.

As things stand, Aguero could miss up to three games, including the Manchester derby, but City will attempt to have the ban overturned or reduced with the case set to go to a hearing.

Aguero was allowed until 6pm today to respond to the charge and he and the club have decided there is a case to be made against the punishment he is expected to receive. The risk of an appeal is it being deemed ‘frivolous’ and an extra game being added on, although these are rare now.

A three-match ban would see Aguero miss the Manchester derby, Premier League tie with Bournemouth, and League Cup trip to Swansea. In the unlikely event he was to receive an additional one-match ban, it would see him miss a second clash with Swansea, this time in the league.